03220DenmarkDefense.docx by plunkettcl 13p 1.6v Fjr

TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 03-220

Memorandum of Understanding between the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
and DENMARK

Signed at Nuuk February 20, 2003

with

Related Exchange of Notes

DEFENSE

Cooperation

NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Pursuant to Public Law 89 — 497, approved July 8, 1966
(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

". . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued
under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent
evidence ... of the treaties, international agreements other than
treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and
international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be,
therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime
jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the
United States, and of the several States, without any further proof
or authentication thereof."

DENMARK

Defense: Cooperation

Memorandum of understanding signed
at Nuuk February 20, 2003;

Entered into force February 20, 2003.

With related exchange of notes.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AND

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK
(INCLUDING THE HOME RULE GOVERNMENT OF GREENLAND)

CONCERNING
THE DUNDAS AREA

Article I

1. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regulates cooperation between the
Government of the United States of America and the Government of the
Kingdom of Denmark (including the Home Rule Government of Greenland),
which has been agreed upon in connection with the Exchange of Notes this day
between the Danish and the United States Governments regarding the
relinquishment of Dundas from the Thule defence area.

2. Having reference also to the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, this MOU is in
implementation of the United States - Denmark Agreement Concerning the
Defence of Greenland, dated April 27, 1951 (hereinafter referred to as "the 1951
Agreement"), and related agreements.

Article II

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other agreement, the Danish
Government (including the Greenland Home Rule Government) accepts the
return of Dundas "as is" and assumes complete responsibility for any
environmental remediation or other actions it may believe necessary.

2. The Danish Government (including the Greenland Home Rule Government)
hereby waives any and all claims of the Danish Government (including the
Greenland Home Rule Government) against the Government of the United
States arising out of any acts or omissions related to or in connection with the
use of Dundas during the period of its inclusion within the Thule defence area.

3. Any and all claims cognisable under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement
shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of that Agreement.

4. The Government of Denmark assumes jurisdiction and liability for any and all
claims, not covered in paragraph 3 above, for damages that resulted in any way,
in whole or in part, from any acts or omissions (or alleged acts or omissions) by

the claimant, the Government of Denmark (including the Greenland Home Rule
Government) or a third party occurring after the return of the Dundas
Peninsula. Nothing herein should in any way be interpreted as limiting or
otherwise affecting the applicability of the NATO SOFA provisions pertaining
to claims.

5. The foregoing paragraphs of this article shall not apply to contractual claims
against the Government of the United States.

Article III

Except as otherwise agreed in the Permanent Committee, there shall be no setdement of
persons or erection of permanent structures in Dundas for three years from the date of
the Exchange of Notes regarding the relinquishment of Dundas from the Thule defence
area. This does not prevent restoration that does not alter the original size and essential
character of existing buildings. For an additional period of three years the U.S.
authorities will be consulted no later than six months in advance in case any initiative
should be taken that would alter the original size and essential character of existing
buildings.

Article IV

The following security measures shall be taken regarding the Thule defence area:

1. United States authorities and Danish/Greenlandic authorities undertake to
cooperate to ensure that the return of Dundas to Danish jurisdiction and
control does not compromise the security of Thule Air Base or the Thule
defence area. This cooperation includes periodic joint threat assessments by
appropriate experts.

2. Danish/ Greenlandic authorities undertake to ensure necessary policing of
Dundas, including, if necessary, by police forces supplementing the local police
on short notice. The Danish/ Greenlandic authorities shall ensure regular
patrol activities in and surveillance of Dundas, and, if appropriate and for a
limited period of time, relevant checks of incoming aircraft and passengers.

3. Danish/Greenlandic authorities shall ensure that non-residents of the Qaanaaq
Municipality are not permitted in Dundas on a permanent basis and that such
non-residents do not enter the Thule defence area from Dundas without
permission of competent United States authorities at Thule Air Base.

4.

Consultations and exchange of information on matters relating to Dundas that
may have implications for the security of Thule Air Base will be dealt with in
the Permanent Committee.

Article V

The Permanent Committee shall monitor the implementation of this Memorandum of
Understanding.

Article VI

1 . Any disagreement regarding the interpretation or application of this MOU
shall be resolved by consultation between the parties.

2. This Memorandum of Understanding shall enter into force on the date of
signature and shall remain in force for the duration of the 1951 Agreement.
This understanding may be amended at any time by mutual written
agreement of the Parties.

In witness whereof, the undersigned representatives have signed this Memorandum of
Understanding.

Done in Nuuk this twentieth day of February 2003 in duplicate, in the English and
Danish languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Government of
The United States of America

Of

Sally Maihiasen Light

For the Government of
The Kingdom of Denmark
(including The Home Rule Government of
Greenland)

Friis Arne Petersen
For the Government of Denmark

Hans Enoksen
For The Home Rule Government
of Greenland

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

N.NFG. File No. 107.F.l.r

Copenhagen, February 20, 2003

Your Excellency,

I have the honour to refer to Exchanges of Notes of October 14, 1964, May 5, 1965,
September 30, 1986, and September 29, 1992, between our two Governments concerning
certain adjustments of the geographical extension of the defence areas in Greenland made
available to the United States by the Government of Denmark pursuant to Article II (3) of
the Agreement of April 27, 1951, Concerning the Defence of Greenland as set forth in
Technical Schedule of March 20, 1958, and the Memorandum of Understanding of March
13, 1991 between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of
the Kingdom of Denmark (including the Home Rule Government of Greenland)
Concerning Use of Sondrestrom Aviation Facility, Kulusuk Airfield and Other Matters
Related to United States Military Activities in Greenland.

1. Following the agreement in the Memorandum of Understanding of today's date
concerning removal of Dundas from the defence area and discussions between our
representatives, I have the honour to propose that the defence area in Greenland be
redefined as follows:

1.1 Thule

The defence area of Thule covers the area of the Southern bank of
Wolstenholme Fjord limited by Harald Moltke's Glacier (Sermerssuaq),
the ice cap and a straight line between the following two points: 69° 10' W,
76° 30' N and 68° 35' W, 76° 18' N, save the area delimited by a line beginning
at the coast south at 76° 325 min N following the watershed to 68° 46' W, 76°
332' N and from there north to a point on the coast on 68° 44' W.

2. It is agreed that, in case of emergency or if performance of a mission makes it necessary,
access to and movement by the Armed Forces of the United States in any of the
portions of the defence areas relinquished in accordance with this and earlier Exchanges
of Notes is authorized subject to the provisions of Article V (3) and Article VI (as
modified in 1986) of the Agreement of April 27, 1951, Concerning the Defence of
Greenland.

His Excellency

Mr. Stuart Alan Bernstein

Ambassador of the United States of America

Copenhagen

It is understood and agreed that the entitlement to priority use by the United States of
facilities in Sondrestrom and Kulusuk shall continue in accordance with Article XV of
the Memorandum of Understanding of March 13, 1991 referenced above.

3. The Danish Liaison Officer at Thule shall be informed immediately, and whenever
possible in advance, of any access or movement in the areas relinquished in accordance
with this and earlier Exchanges of Notes, as authorized therein.

If this proposal is agreeable to the Government of the United States of America, this
Note and Your Excellency's reply to that effect shall constitute a new Technical
Schedule to the Agreement of April 27, 1951, Concerning the Defence of Greenland,
superseding the Technical Schedule contained in the Exchange of Notes of September
29, 1992. It shall enter into force on the date of Your Excellency's reply and remain in
force for the duration of the Agreement of April 27, 1951.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my
highest consideration.

Per Stag Moller
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Dear Mr. Minister:

I have the honor to refer to your note of February 20, 2003 which
reads as follows:

"I have the honour to refer to Exchanges of Notes of October 14,
1964, May 5, 1965, September 30, 1986, and September 29, 1992,
between our two Governments concerning certain adjustments of the
geographical extension of the defence areas in Greenland made
available to the United States by the Government of Denmark
pursuant to Article II (3) of the Agreement of April 27, 1951,
Concerning the Defence of Greenland as set forth in Technical
Schedule of March 20, 1958, and the Memorandum of Understanding
of March 13, 1991 between the Government of the United States of
America and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, (including
the Home Rule Government of Greenland) Concerning Use of
Sondrestrom Aviation Facility, Kulusuk Airfield and Other Matters
Related to United States Military Activities in Greenland.

(1) . Following the agreement in the Memorandum of Understanding
of today's date concerning removal of Dundas from the defence
area and discussions between our representatives, I have the
honour to propose that the defence area in Greenland be redefined
as follows:

(1.1). Thule

The defence area of Thule covers the area of the Southern bank of
Wolstenholme Fjord limited by Harald Moltke's Glacier
(Sermerssuaq) , the ice cap and a straight line between the
following two points: 69° 10'W, 76° 30'N and 68° 35 'W, 76° 18'N,
save the area delimited by a line beginning at the coast south at
76° 325 min N following the watershed to 68° 46'W, 76° 332'N and
from there north to a point on the coast on 68° 44 'W.

(2) . It is agreed that, in case of emergency or if performance of
a mission makes it necessary, access to and movement by the Armed
Forces of the United States in any of the portions of the defence
areas relinquished in accordance with this and earlier Exchanges
of Notes is authorized subject to the provisions of Article V(3)
and Article VI (as modified in 198 6) of the Agreement of April
27, 1951, Concerning the Defence of Greenland.

It is understood and agreed that the entitlement to priority use
by the United States facilities in Sondrestrom and Kulusuk shall
continue in accordance with Article XV of the Memorandum of
Understanding of March 13, 1991 referenced above.

-2-

(3) . The Danish Liaison Officer at Thule shall be informed
immediately, and whenever possible in advance, of any access or
movement in the areas relinquished in accordance with this and
earlier Exchanges of Notes, as authorized therein.

If this proposal is agreeable to the Government of the United
States of America, this Note and Your Excellency's reply to that
effect shall constitute a new Technical Schedule to the Agreement
of April 27, 1951, Concerning the Defence of Greenland,
superseding the Technical Schedule contained in the Exchange of
Notes of September 29, 1992. It shall enter into force on the
date of Your Excellency's reply and remain in force for the
duration of the Agreement of April 27, 1951.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency
the assurance of my highest consideration. "

I confirm that the foregoing proposal is agreeable to the
Government of The United States of America and that your note and
this reply shall constitute a new Technical Schedule to the
Agreement of April 27, 1951, Concerning the Defence of Greenland,
superseding the Technical Schedule contained in the Exchange of
Notes of September 29, 1992, and that it shall enter into force
on the date of this reply and remain in force for the duration of
the Agreement of April 27, 1951.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest
consideration.

Sincerely,

Stuart Bernstein

His Excellency

Per Stig M0ller,

Minister of Foreign Affairs,
The Kingdom of Denmark.

AFTALE MEMORANDUM
MELLEM

AMERIKAS FORENEDE STATERS REGERING

OG

KONGERIGET DANMARKS REGERING
(INKLUSIVE GR0N1ANDS LANDSSTYRE)
VEDR0RENDE
DUNDAS-OMRADET

Artikell

1. Dette Aftalememorandum regulerer samarbejde mellem Amerikas Forenede Staters
regering og Kongetiget Danmarks regering (inklusive Gronlands landsstyre), som der er
opnaet enighed om i forbindelse med noteudveksling samme dag mellem den danske og
amerikanske regering vedrorende udskillelsen af Dundas fra forsvarsomradet ved Thule.

2. Med henvisning ogsa til overenskomst mellem deltagerne i Den Nordatlantiske Traktat
vedrorende status for deres styrker er naervaerende Aftalememorandum et led i
gennemforelsen af Overenskomsten mellem Danmark og De Forenede Stater om
forsvaret af Gronland af 27. april 1951 (herefter benasvnt 1951-aftalen) og aftaler i
forbindelse hermed.

Artikein

1 . Uanset bestemmelserne i andre aftaler, accepterer den danske regering (inklusive
Gronlands landsstyre) udskillelsen af Dundas "som det er" og patager sig fuldt ansvar
for enhver miljomaessig afhjaelpningsforanstaltning eller andre hand linger, den anser for
pakraevet.

2. Den danske regering (inklusive Gronlands landsstyre) frafalder herved ethvert
erstatningskrav fra den danske regering (inklusive Gronlands landsstyre) over for De
Forenede Staters regering, som matte hidrore fra nogen handling eller undladelse i
forbindelse med eller knyttet til anvendelsen af Dundas i den periode, hvor det udgjorde
en del af forsvarsomradet ved Thule.

3. Ethvert krav, der henherer under overenskomsten mellem deltagerne i den
Nordatlantiske Traktat vedrorende status for deres styrker, skal behandles i
overensstemmelse med bestemmelserne i denne overenskomst.

4. Den danske regering patager sig jurisdiktion og ansvar for ethvert erstatningskrav, der
ikke er omfattet af ovenfor citerede paragraf 3, for skader, som pa enhver made fblger
helt eller delvis af handlinger eller undladelser (eller pastaede handlinger eller
undladelser) af den skadelidte, den danske regering (inklusive Gronlands landsstyre) eller

tredjepart, og som sker efter udskillelsen af Dundas-halvoen. Intet heri skal pa nogen
made fortolkes som en begrsensning i, eller pa anden made indvirke pa, anvendeligheden
af overenskomsten mellem deltagerne i den Nordatknriske Traktat vedrorende status
for deres styrker for sa vidt angar erstatningskrav.

De ovennasvnte paragraffer i denne artikel finder ikke anvendelse pa kontraktlige krav
over for De Forenede Staters regering.

Artikel III

Med mindre andet matte vaere aftalt i det Permanente Udvalg, mi der ikke ske
bosaettelse af personer eller opfores permanente bygninger i Dundas i tre ar fra datoen
for noteudvekslingen vedrorende udskillelsen af Dundas fra forsvarsomradet ved Thule.
Dette udelukker ikke istandsaettelser, som ikke aendrer den oprindelige storrelse og
grundkeggende karakter af eksisterende bygninger. For en yderligere periode pa tre ar vil
de amerikanske myndigheder blive konsulteret senest 6 maneder forud for ethvert
initiativ, der matte tages, som ville asndre den oprindelige storrelse og grundlaeggende
karakter af eksisterende bygninger.

Artikel IV

Folgende sikkerhedsforanstaltninger skal traeffes vedrorende forsvarsomradet ved Thule:

De Forenede Staters myndigheder og de dansk/gronlandske myndigheder vil
samarbejde for at sikre, at genetableringen af dansk jurisdiktion og kontrol i Dundas
ikke vil bringe sikkerheden pa Thule-basen eller forsvarsomradet ved Thule i fare. Dette
samarbejde omfatter periodiske faelles trusselsvurderinger af relevante eksperter.

De dansk/gronlandske myndigheder patager sig at sikre den nodvendige overvagning af
Dundas, inklusive - om nodvendigt - ved at poliristyrker med kort varsel stotter det
lokale politi. De dansk/ gronlandske myndigheder skal sikre regelmaessig patruljering i og
overvagning af Dundas og - safremt det er hensigtsma^ssig og for et begraenset tidsrum -
relevant kontrol af indkommende fly og passagerer.

Dansk/ gronkndske myndigheder skal sikre, at personer, der ikke har fast bopael i
Qaanaaq kommune, ikke far tilladelse til at opholde sig permanent i Dundas, og at
sadanne personer ikke far adgang til forsvarsomradet ved Thule fra Dundas uden
tilladelse fra kompetente amerikanske myndigheder pa Thule-basen.

Konsultationer og udveksling af informationer vedrorende forhold angaende Dundas,
som matte have betydning for sikkerheden pa Thule-basen, vil blive behandlet i det
Permanente Udvalg.

Artikel V

Det Permanente Udvalg skal overvage gennemforelsen af dette Aftalememorandum.

Artikel VI

Enhver uoverensstemmelse vedrorende fortolkningen diet anvendelsen af dette
Aftalememorandum skal afgores ved konsultationer mellem parterne.

Dette Aftalememorandum skal traede i kraft pa datoen for underskrivelsen og skal
forblive i kraft i samme periode som 1951-aftalen. Denne aftale kan aendres til enhver tid
ved faelles skriftlig overenskomst mellem parterne.

Til bekraeftelse heraf har undertegnede repraesentanter underskrevet naervaerende
Aftalememorandum. Udfacrdiget i Nuuk den tyvende februar 2003, i to eksemplarer pa
dansk og engelsk, begge tekster af lige gyldighed.

For Amerikas Forenede
Staters regering

Salty Mathiasen Light/

For Kongeriget Danmarks regering
(inklusive Gronlands landsstyre)

>-<J L L-

Friis Arne Petersen
For Danmarks regering

Enoksen
For Gronlands landsstyre